tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962183493704676252015-02-18T07:22:57.536-05:00little love blueThis is a space to share a little about myself, my family, and my work.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.comBlogger592125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-30039576791613323642014-09-12T20:02:00.000-04:002014-09-12T20:03:45.068-04:00new beginnings...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_2pDF6qeRQ/VBOJD-lMbWI/AAAAAAAAOvA/y5OygmLmgfE/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-12%2Bat%2B7.59.52%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_2pDF6qeRQ/VBOJD-lMbWI/AAAAAAAAOvA/y5OygmLmgfE/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-12%2Bat%2B7.59.52%2BPM.png" height="395" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />well, once again i have abandoned this space for quite a while. i pretty much felt like the blogging forum was no longer working for me, and maybe that is still true. i have been sharing my life mostly on <a href="http://instagram.com/littleloveblue" target="_blank">instagram</a>, which i love. i have realized though, as much as i love pictures i'm not really a good enough photographer to convey everything through them. i feel the need to use words as well. so, this may mainly be for me but that's ok. i find myself coming here from time to time just to look through old posts and remember. i like that. the photos and the words. my kids are nearly 12, 9, and 2 now. i want to hold onto those memories. so, i will come here now for me. i won't start a new blog because this space reflects my life over time and want to remember those changes. i'm sewing irregularly, taking lots of photos and sometimes sharing them, unschooling, chasing a toddler, remodeling, chasing chickens and dogs, growing a family, a marriage and hopefully me. all of that may be here.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-55215435543664678422014-01-20T15:47:00.000-05:002014-01-20T15:49:42.894-05:00a new year, a new space...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleloveblue.bigcartel.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xy-YK8oM5D0/Ut19QOiygWI/AAAAAAAAONM/MDflAgjQ10Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-20+at+2.46.31+PM.png" height="280" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />happy new year! i'm starting out the year by trying out a <a href="http://littleloveblue.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">new shop</a> for my goods. when i joined etsy 6 years ago it was still a very new and exciting place. most people had never even heard of the site when i told them about it. i loved being a part of the movement to bring back handmade (or at least bring about awareness of it). it was truly a community there, and i met so many amazing artists. i lived in brooklyn and was able to visit etsy headquarters in person, even making a video for them there and doing a live tutorial another time. i really treasure the space it provided for me and my work. i love that it is so well known now. almost everyone knows what etsy is, and now most people ask me if i have a shop there when i mention the work i do. it seems silly i guess to say that i am moving elsewhere but i have to admit it is just not a fit for me right now. i don't have the time to devote to creating a large store, which etsy can now easily support and encourages. it is no longer a space just for small artists creating each item by their own hand. i can't really compete with the sheer number of stores there, let alone shops that have their designs produced by someone else. i mostly felt lost there (i remember the days when you could list something and then watch it show up on the front page!). for now i will keep my shop open, and list some custom order cake toppers there. i'm still lucky to have people find me through etsy, and i do still like many things about the site. also examples of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/littleloveblue/sold?ref=shopinfo_sales_leftnav" target="_blank">my past work</a> are all there still. i have decided to try listing a few of my creations at <a href="http://littleloveblue.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">big cartel</a>. i will continue to share here when i can, but i also post daily on <a href="http://instagram.com/littleloveblue" target="_blank">instagram</a> and share my works in progress there. i hope you will take a moment to visit both sites. they are both in the link bar above as well. thanks!Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-73230309114940586802013-11-07T16:55:00.001-05:002013-11-07T22:59:51.221-05:00women make...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PTBN0K7Mkwk/Unv9dNHkKiI/AAAAAAAAOH8/8wDH-QUOyuI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-07+at+3.49.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PTBN0K7Mkwk/Unv9dNHkKiI/AAAAAAAAOH8/8wDH-QUOyuI/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-11-07+at+3.49.43+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />i've been thinking a lot about creation, art, blogging, and so on. the usual things i guess. i haven't been blogging much, and frankly it is because it can feel rather pointless. there are so many bloggers out there that if you aren't one of the big ones your voice rarely gets heard. i also questioned whether what i have to say really matters enough for it to even make a difference? i wrote before about giving up this blog, but couldn't quite let go. my creative energy has been stretched thin though, and sewing and making things is the main reason i have always blogged here. i share a lot about my family and day to day life as well, but lately it has been easier to do that in photos and written tidbits on <a href="http://instagram.com/littleloveblue" target="_blank">instagram</a>. i've also made some amazing connections there, with other like minded women especially. with women who struggle with the same questions i do. it is a nice refuge for me when i need a quick moment during the day to do something for myself. i find inspiration, support and acceptance. it's much different than most other social media experiences i've had. yesterday, i posted the photo above, with the following caption...<br /><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Thinking about what to do with these today and why I so often put off creating when it always feeds my soul? When I feel lost, why do I avoid what actually helps me feel better? It's so easy to trivialize making and creating, but I guess it's easy to trivialize a lot of things.</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">These are the things i am thinking a lot about. my life at the moment is about homeschooling two older children while trying to meet the demands of a very demanding toddler (who really would prefer to have my attention 100% of the day). i feel drained most days. my free moments are rare and usually come at&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">nap time (thank god for&nbsp;nap time) when i try to take a break, finish household tasks and devote time to the older kids needs. evenings are pretty much the same, except i'm even more tired and do not have the aid of coffee. i tell myself i will work or create something but it often gets pushed aside in favor of housework, or frankly, doing nothing. i love to sew and work on other projects, but it is still work. it requires me to have time and energy to do it. i can't really make enough to keep a shop full these days, so i'm left wondering "is there a point to it?" it is easy as women to trivialize these sorts of creative endeavors. even if we are talented or simply just enjoy doing it, we can easily say it isn't important. if i make small animals just for the sake of making them is there a value in that? even when i am selling them i will never get paid the kind of money my husband does for the same amount of time spent working. yet, if i let it go and other women continue to do the same, what happens to those skills? i think about all the women before me who spent countless hours sewing by hand, out of necessity, or love, or both. i'm tied to those women. their labors may go unrecognized or unknown but didn't they have value? the day to day labors of women of all different kinds is what makes the world work. where would we be without that history?</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">my background education is in feminist theory, particularly women filmmakers and artists. i've always been fascinated by the history of women in general though, especially the everyday lives that women lead. of course i admire those women who dared to step outside of the normal realm of society to do amazing things and push for a better life and more opportunities for all women. i am grateful for that. i would never argue that a woman's place is in the home. really though, we all live in a &nbsp;home of some kind, women and men, and those spaces do have a special value.&nbsp;also, historically women's roles have revolved around the home, the care of others, and day to day tasks&nbsp;that make up living. it is so easy to dismiss the work of normal women (inside the home or out). we know the things that women do are often necessary but they are also often trivialized. if i ever go back to the academic world my focus would be on women and everyday art. i love the things that women make both practical and beautiful, and often both. how we express ourselves creatively has such value, whether we call ourselves "artists" or not. just because something doesn't have a monetary value or even look like "art" doesn't mean there isn't value in making it.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">the other day i read a blog post by a man admiring the work his wife did to raise their children. it wasn't patronizing in any way or encouraging all women to do that work necessarily, but he was pointing out the value that he appreciated and saw go unrecognized. one of the comments to this post was by&nbsp;a man who questioned the inherent value in having children. his argument was that he didn't see the big deal about making a baby because "any thirteen year old girl could do it". that dismissal struck me strongly and stuck with me. the things that women create are so easily dismissed that even making a person is considered no big deal! i see this a lot when it comes to motherhood. women are looked down on for staying home with their kids. you must not be very intelligent or ambitious if you chose to spend your time with children is the&nbsp;assumption. breastfeeding is seen as something gross or&nbsp;vulgar that should be hidden, after all isn't "man"made formula just as good or better than woman made breast milk? all that got me thinking about the term 'man made' and what it means if you say 'woman made' instead? i looked at the hashtag on instagram for #womanmade and it mostly involved&nbsp;sandwiches?! really?obviously there has been a tremendous handmade movement in recent years. more and more people, men and women, are finding value in the things that are created by hand. we are recognizing and trying to relearn or hold onto those skills passed down for so long, as well as creating new ones. women i think especially have found value in this movement. yet... i still struggle with this issue and i see other women doing so as well. i still feel uncomfortable at times trying to explain the things i create to other people. i know it can seem unimportant, especially if i can't claim fame or fortune from it. again, i admire the women&nbsp;who have achieved that but what about the rest of us, who sew or knit in the spare moments we can find just because we enjoy it? what about the handmade gifts or projects around the home or made with children? these creations have value too.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">so, all of this is a long winded way of saying i thought i would start writing about some of these issues again, here on my blog and on <a href="http://instagram.com/" target="_blank">instagram</a>. if you would like to share some of your creative work on instagram i hope you will tag it #womenmake. i chose this over "woman made' because i think it sounds much more active and ongoing. i wanted to capture the spirit of creating in the everyday. tagging something as "made" can seem so final, and maybe make you feel it has to be important and finished. i like the idea of women making things all the time, when they can find the time or feel moved to make it! women make a lot&nbsp;of things. we make clothes, we make crafts, we make meals, we make pictures, we make homes, we make art from nature, we make children, we make things out of wood and clay and cloth and paint, we make old things useful or beautiful again, we make this world work! i want it to include all kinds of women, not just mothers or certain kinds of mothers. how you chose to live your life isn't really the point, it all has value. the things you make have value. hopefully we can support each other in this movement and recognize that value in each other and&nbsp;ourselves. i know i am mostly blogging into a void right now, but this will be a lot about finding out more about the things i'm interested and hopefully someone else may find it interesting too.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-48792869663064453332013-08-29T15:20:00.003-04:002013-08-29T15:28:16.621-04:00hiking...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZItnKTX818w/Uh-bTUrwc7I/AAAAAAAAOD4/i9Msi-KnzIA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.02.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZItnKTX818w/Uh-bTUrwc7I/AAAAAAAAOD4/i9Msi-KnzIA/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.02.09+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">someone else to do the baby wearing!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />one of my favorite things to do is go for a hike. i love being outside, surrounded by trees instead of cars. it feels so good. hiking with children is not always easy, especially when they are small. my oldest, jack henry, was a great hiker from a very early age. he just liked to be constantly moving, so we could set him on a path and he would just keeping going! he climbed a mountain at a year and a half! then came sidney. oh boy, she did not like to hike at all. it was fine as long as we could carry her in the back pack but when she got too heavy it became an arduous experience trying to get her to walk. just mention the word "hike" and she would start to whine. we started calling them "nature walks" to try to fool her but she caught on pretty quickly. distracting her helped. reading about plants and animals along the way. finding interesting things to look for, bringing friends along, all of these helped somewhat. it really has only been the last year or so that she finally started to like it (or at least accept that it was inevitable). of course that was the time tess came along! luckily she loves being outside. it is her favorite thing to do. she is not such a big fan of the carrier though and obviously is not ready to walk the trails very far yet (she likes to stop and stand on every single rock, you can imagine how long that takes!). so, we still have a few years of slow going ahead of us. it is worth it though. it is good for me and it is good for them. i want them to value nature and hopefully continue to choose to be out in it. it is not always the peaceful experience i imagine when heading out the door but i'm always glad we do it. i think maybe some hiking dates with my husband may help too!<br /><br />do you hike with your little ones, or your older children/teenagers? is it a family tradition? one you grew up with? we didn't do any camping when i was little but i have very fond memories of some beautiful hikes we took, both in california where i grew up and in kentucky where we visited family every year. i hope to take my kids to visit some of those same places too.<br /><br />these are all photos from our hike last weekend, except the last one which is from our daily hike around the neighborhood! we are looking hopefully for signs of fall!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQBR_-MPsNw/Uh-bTOAlWUI/AAAAAAAAOD8/gjPmxSiCBFA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.02.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQBR_-MPsNw/Uh-bTOAlWUI/AAAAAAAAOD8/gjPmxSiCBFA/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.02.27+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYwU_c5t99k/Uh-bTOqrRJI/AAAAAAAAOEU/6P8CwHFEhLw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.02.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYwU_c5t99k/Uh-bTOqrRJI/AAAAAAAAOEU/6P8CwHFEhLw/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.02.45+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p0l1f3Q-y3M/Uh-bULt-pHI/AAAAAAAAOEQ/C8LCJKIyYd0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.03.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p0l1f3Q-y3M/Uh-bULt-pHI/AAAAAAAAOEQ/C8LCJKIyYd0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.03.03+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JW2xb4SV-hw/Uh-bUdg1hlI/AAAAAAAAOEY/V4rCmAt06Pk/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.03.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JW2xb4SV-hw/Uh-bUdg1hlI/AAAAAAAAOEY/V4rCmAt06Pk/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-29+at+3.03.20+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-86807033066625836592013-08-07T15:01:00.000-04:002013-08-29T15:29:21.959-04:00deer cake topper...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBtex2mXAeQ/UgKUx-OEPOI/AAAAAAAAOCU/9B73rcr5FGA/s1600/deercake10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBtex2mXAeQ/UgKUx-OEPOI/AAAAAAAAOCU/9B73rcr5FGA/s640/deercake10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWctM8KoDaQ/UgKUVeAYfVI/AAAAAAAAOB0/-pW1-ELiHhE/s1600/etsycollage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWctM8KoDaQ/UgKUVeAYfVI/AAAAAAAAOB0/-pW1-ELiHhE/s640/etsycollage3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IKLsrvM6qPU/UgKUcGt8kFI/AAAAAAAAOCA/gY2S8jDwAD0/s1600/etsycollage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IKLsrvM6qPU/UgKUcGt8kFI/AAAAAAAAOCA/gY2S8jDwAD0/s640/etsycollage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrvDxpirpc8/UgKUnGep0dI/AAAAAAAAOCM/IzKCmtWk8YE/s1600/deercake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrvDxpirpc8/UgKUnGep0dI/AAAAAAAAOCM/IzKCmtWk8YE/s640/deercake6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>i recently completed a new cake topper for the shop. i listed it in both shops actually, you can find it in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/158466767/doe-and-deer-wedding-cake-topper" target="_blank">little love blue</a> and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/158760153/doe-and-deer-wedding-cake-topper" target="_blank">prairie seed</a>. i am so happy with how it turned out. i love the groom in his little herringbone suit and pinstripes and bow tie (my daughter's idea). i love the bride in white wool and japanese floral linen and vintage lace veil. the stand is a little taller than i have made in the past too. they would make such a lovely statement on top of a cake and in your home afterwards for years to come. they are also just fun to display regardless if you are getting married at the moment. i had a client who recently bought a giraffe cake topper as a present for a sister who loves giraffes and was so pleased with it. the giraffes are available for custom order, i have made about 4 of them so far and each one comes out beautiful and unique. i also have plans for a series of new animal pairs that i have started working on!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n83mM1UihM/UgKYmWLHUYI/AAAAAAAAOCk/U3vmjA6g014/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-07+at+2.49.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n83mM1UihM/UgKYmWLHUYI/AAAAAAAAOCk/U3vmjA6g014/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-07+at+2.49.58+PM.png" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9oFLNTKP9k/UgKYmS9NtuI/AAAAAAAAOCo/LZTZ8hAdsmM/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-07+at+2.55.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9oFLNTKP9k/UgKYmS9NtuI/AAAAAAAAOCo/LZTZ8hAdsmM/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-07+at+2.55.14+PM.png" width="482" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45D3R1ezxO0/UgKYmqhVkdI/AAAAAAAAOCs/VEcaI96fSv8/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-07+at+2.56.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45D3R1ezxO0/UgKYmqhVkdI/AAAAAAAAOCs/VEcaI96fSv8/s640/Screen+shot+2013-08-07+at+2.56.19+PM.png" width="612" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-90168014378721362112013-08-06T14:23:00.000-04:002013-08-06T14:51:23.614-04:00tess turns one...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUi-ZNbJ0oM/Uf_aCDjyq_I/AAAAAAAAOBM/h6f3BCIoKNE/s1600/turnsone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUi-ZNbJ0oM/Uf_aCDjyq_I/AAAAAAAAOBM/h6f3BCIoKNE/s640/turnsone.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />well, i guess i should say turned one! we had the sweetest little family party for tess in july and she absolutely loved it! she never tired of all the attention, singing, gift giving, or fun. i'm not sure my other two made it through their first birthday without a little bit of overload but tess was a trooper!<br /><br />tess at one is such a funny little imp. she knows what she wants and is very good at letting you know too. she is strong willed and afraid of very little. she charges head first into most things (sometimes literally). she is not only walking but running, though she spends most mornings making papa walk around with her and hold her hand;) her favorite animal is the cat and a lot of her talking consists of meowing... it's hilarious! she does tell charlie he is a "good dog" though. she is switching to one nap now, right in the middle of the day, which can make the evenings feel long. she is a bed hog and rolls and rolls all over the big bed, wanting the space all to herself. her favorite thing is going outside. too bad the mosquitoes are so horrendous this year or she would just live out there. she shews them away with her little hand, saying "ow". she can stack blocks very high, and knows to run to the window to watch someone leave. she will play in water of any kind endlessly, crying when you take her out, no matter how long it has been. i'm looking forward to fall, and seeing all the ways that tess changes over the next few months.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-av_MAeXA1BA/Uf_Sv_BNszI/AAAAAAAAN88/WNANHiGE9rY/s1600/Tessa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-av_MAeXA1BA/Uf_Sv_BNszI/AAAAAAAAN88/WNANHiGE9rY/s640/Tessa2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-soFUD0mKmIY/Uf_ZfR0k4AI/AAAAAAAAOAk/DBRW8QoGjL4/s1600/tess13b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-soFUD0mKmIY/Uf_ZfR0k4AI/AAAAAAAAOAk/DBRW8QoGjL4/s640/tess13b.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">here are all three of my babes at one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MM5bz8AgrFE/Udnidydi-yI/AAAAAAAAN6I/5AIvQVoP5I8/s1600/jh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MM5bz8AgrFE/Udnidydi-yI/AAAAAAAAN6I/5AIvQVoP5I8/s320/jh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ7ND8JHTPc/UdnifbIMRCI/AAAAAAAAN6Q/o4_n38fwYdY/s1600/sid1st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ7ND8JHTPc/UdnifbIMRCI/AAAAAAAAN6Q/o4_n38fwYdY/s320/sid1st.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dESi_A8vwQ/UdnigeGhSbI/AAAAAAAAN6Y/vjQ5Q_2Z2Vc/s1600/tessa1st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dESi_A8vwQ/UdnigeGhSbI/AAAAAAAAN6Y/vjQ5Q_2Z2Vc/s320/tessa1st.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />what a blessed mama i am;)Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-77580205443217992212013-07-01T22:15:00.002-04:002013-07-01T22:15:57.029-04:00a teeny tiny elephant...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uSXYVVMST0/UdI1YG1XWDI/AAAAAAAAN5g/TRIGMc1DOew/s613/Screen+shot+2013-07-01+at+10.04.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uSXYVVMST0/UdI1YG1XWDI/AAAAAAAAN5g/TRIGMc1DOew/s640/Screen+shot+2013-07-01+at+10.04.35+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />a teeny tiny elephant that can fit in the palm of your hand! i've always wanted to make such a tiny one, and little miss tess has been gifting me with some long naps lately. i'm enjoying sewing again this summer. the kids are enjoying reading and playing and i get to sew. i like summer! except for mosquitoes. summer would be nearly perfect without those guys around. we took a nice little trip to the beach also and i will share photos soon. you can <a href="http://instagram.com/littleloveblue" target="_blank">follow me on instagram</a>, where i post daily but i do have some new things planned for this space. this week tess turns one.... eeep! how did that happen?!<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs-qv8_CvDw/UdI2z8KiIuI/AAAAAAAAN5w/8lmOIIRPevU/s598/Screen+shot+2013-07-01+at+10.10.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs-qv8_CvDw/UdI2z8KiIuI/AAAAAAAAN5w/8lmOIIRPevU/s400/Screen+shot+2013-07-01+at+10.10.43+PM.png" width="397" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">look who's busy walking these days!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />p.s. i'm sure you know by now but google reader has shut down. i'm using<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/" target="_blank"> bloglovin'</a> and it is was super easy to transfer all my favorite blogs over.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-83306831594874884382013-06-06T11:03:00.000-04:002013-06-06T11:03:03.453-04:00tess at 11 months...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQTqr2u1AvY/UbCgy7UCVZI/AAAAAAAANvA/YRXvtRz2JN4/s1600/tess11months4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQTqr2u1AvY/UbCgy7UCVZI/AAAAAAAANvA/YRXvtRz2JN4/s640/tess11months4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FK4DDdxzH2s/UbCg1AVjAQI/AAAAAAAANvI/WyJ7R19h8Ec/s1600/tess11months5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FK4DDdxzH2s/UbCg1AVjAQI/AAAAAAAANvI/WyJ7R19h8Ec/s640/tess11months5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYGCm227Tnw/UbCgj6ChYHI/AAAAAAAANu0/wIxCOmF2Yxg/s1600/Tess11months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYGCm227Tnw/UbCgj6ChYHI/AAAAAAAANu0/wIxCOmF2Yxg/s640/Tess11months.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74GKCITJ04M/UbCg11vGw8I/AAAAAAAANvQ/kjirpTFP814/s1600/tess11months6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74GKCITJ04M/UbCg11vGw8I/AAAAAAAANvQ/kjirpTFP814/s640/tess11months6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjnkvo7PtLE/UbCgiqyeGwI/AAAAAAAANuo/XltDkKJ05kQ/s1600/tess11months2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjnkvo7PtLE/UbCgiqyeGwI/AAAAAAAANuo/XltDkKJ05kQ/s640/tess11months2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tess is 11 months today</td></tr></tbody></table><br />11 month old tess is going through so many changes. i think she can sense how much herself because suddenly she is nursing like a newborn again. she is extra cuddly when she is not busy exploring the world away from me. she alternates between needing me right there and wanting to do it herself! she has started to take her first tentative steps on her own and likes to make a big production out of it, throwing her arms in the air dramatically before she tries. we all cheer like mad and she loves it. she is so serious about everything but genuinely goofy at heart, which makes everything she does even funnier. she points at what she wants and points to herself and screams "ahhhhhhhhh" until you give it to her. if you don't? watch out, she likes to throw herself on the ground and scream or possibly bite you for it! she will then give you kisses and hugs to say sorry. she is getting so good at communicating even with her few words. new words include... dog, cat, up, yeah, nini (night night), niiiiiii (noooo!) and of course the names of all her beloved family. i can't believe all the changes, and i can't wait to see what the next month brings. it's been a wonderful, challenging, terrific almost year so far!<br /><br />some more of tess from recent weeks....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ih7VTZX3rc/UbCj5mFpMSI/AAAAAAAANvg/QH38F2HJllI/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.56.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ih7VTZX3rc/UbCj5mFpMSI/AAAAAAAANvg/QH38F2HJllI/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.56.49+AM.png" width="482" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ1CqGOUKOg/UbCj6ESJLJI/AAAAAAAANvs/OV2fRXX9HLo/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ1CqGOUKOg/UbCj6ESJLJI/AAAAAAAANvs/OV2fRXX9HLo/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.02+AM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqIL_hFcbqM/UbCj565nCtI/AAAAAAAANvk/VK9KgHM8SPI/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqIL_hFcbqM/UbCj565nCtI/AAAAAAAANvk/VK9KgHM8SPI/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.17+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25SGs5ywHOw/UbCj61h12qI/AAAAAAAANv4/FnGpwrzBcAE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25SGs5ywHOw/UbCj61h12qI/AAAAAAAANv4/FnGpwrzBcAE/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.30+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51NJwMafA9c/UbCj7XYnsnI/AAAAAAAANwA/VdmluLkC9Ds/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.43+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51NJwMafA9c/UbCj7XYnsnI/AAAAAAAANwA/VdmluLkC9Ds/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.43+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDuzzt0aOnM/UbCj7tzJw8I/AAAAAAAANwM/7O5wLZSRhis/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDuzzt0aOnM/UbCj7tzJw8I/AAAAAAAANwM/7O5wLZSRhis/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.57.58+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ht2s8pM25I/UbCj8alaa8I/AAAAAAAANwY/hvWuHTfcxmo/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.58.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ht2s8pM25I/UbCj8alaa8I/AAAAAAAANwY/hvWuHTfcxmo/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.58.33+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iPPHV-8WWvw/UbCj7lvmqvI/AAAAAAAANwI/WQj9dQamcoU/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.58.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iPPHV-8WWvw/UbCj7lvmqvI/AAAAAAAANwI/WQj9dQamcoU/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-06+at+10.58.17+AM.png" width="476" /></a></div><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-78503548044150421832013-06-03T17:28:00.003-04:002013-06-03T17:28:37.698-04:00june is aps awareness month...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSLVwiHWKjc/Ua0KFDFUj5I/AAAAAAAANuY/RdD0OiMyw0o/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-03+at+5.26.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSLVwiHWKjc/Ua0KFDFUj5I/AAAAAAAANuY/RdD0OiMyw0o/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-03+at+5.26.27+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />many people aren't aware of what aps or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is. i certainly wasn't until i was told i had it. <a href="http://www.littleloveblue.blogspot.com/2009/10/little-objects-large-memories.html" target="_blank">after my first son was stillborn</a> i was told i would probably never have an answer, that it was just "one of those things" that sometimes happens. sadly, many women never find an answer for the loss of a baby ,but more and more many late term losses or multiple miscarriages can sometimes be explained (some dr.'s believe aps can be attributed to 25% of these cases). i was tested for numerous possibilities and it was found i have aps, an autoimmune disorder that effects the blood. specifically, my body recognizes the placenta as something foreign and attacks it by causing clots which cuts off nutrients to the baby. it also causes an increase in complications like preeclampsia, which i had with my third baby. aps was discovered fairly recently, and treatment for it even more recently. if my mother had a had it it there is a good chance i would not be here. i wish i had known i had it before pregnancy, and i'm sad that i had to lose a baby to find out i did. i'm so grateful that i do know and that i can be treated. i have gone on to have three more beautiful children because of that. aps also effects a lot of people, men included, outside of pregnancy. it makes you at a much greater risk for blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks and strokes. since it can be such a serious illness, and since losing my son because of it i want to be a part of spreading awareness about this disorder. if you would like to find out more, you can visit <a href="http://www.apsfa.org/">www.apsfa.org</a>.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-76579942514148658392013-05-27T13:34:00.000-04:002013-05-27T13:36:45.881-04:00memorial day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I0TrbhU5xlE/UaOZhALATOI/AAAAAAAANs8/pKZWH8CEfkU/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.35.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I0TrbhU5xlE/UaOZhALATOI/AAAAAAAANs8/pKZWH8CEfkU/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.35.33+PM.png" width="482" /></a></div><br /><br />happy memorial day, happy beginning of summer! i hope you are hanging out in the backyard (or front yard, or park, or pool) on a big old blanket like we are. enjoy it, it goes so fast!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6QgmVDE0JgI/UaOYXlroSGI/AAAAAAAANsU/4NKuzh2Ywlw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.27.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6QgmVDE0JgI/UaOYXlroSGI/AAAAAAAANsU/4NKuzh2Ywlw/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.27.52+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTyaG4Cxv_U/UaOYYSAVA6I/AAAAAAAANsc/CspU05JiO4A/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.28.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTyaG4Cxv_U/UaOYYSAVA6I/AAAAAAAANsc/CspU05JiO4A/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.28.07+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4lT6ninrlb8/UaOYZr7pEvI/AAAAAAAANso/zPCNvEDF7uA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.30.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4lT6ninrlb8/UaOYZr7pEvI/AAAAAAAANso/zPCNvEDF7uA/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.30.35+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPtyJZ58qcg/UaOYyXAojmI/AAAAAAAANs0/uMrNwtkq03w/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.32.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPtyJZ58qcg/UaOYyXAojmI/AAAAAAAANs0/uMrNwtkq03w/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-27+at+1.32.27+PM.png" width="298" /></a></div><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-44778119041028810112013-05-25T00:38:00.000-04:002013-05-25T00:38:51.720-04:00market season...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfGj1fceu9A/UaA-IPoABqI/AAAAAAAANp8/DjLICXS2924/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.25.35+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfGj1fceu9A/UaA-IPoABqI/AAAAAAAANp8/DjLICXS2924/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.25.35+AM.png" width="636" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yay for farmer's market season! i'm so excited to start our weekly ritual of visiting the market as a family. fresh produce, meeting friends, climbing trees, eating popcicles, hanging out on a blanket in the grass... it feels like summer! after a the first few weeks were rainy, it was nice to have a lovely day. here are a few photos of sid with her &nbsp;good friend who came along. photos with tessa were taken by my sister <a href="http://instagram.com/winsomehollow" target="_blank">katy</a>, with much thanks!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I4AkwCMoikE/UaA-IfhnVLI/AAAAAAAANqE/8dDPIu4SeM4/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.25.21+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I4AkwCMoikE/UaA-IfhnVLI/AAAAAAAANqE/8dDPIu4SeM4/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.25.21+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrjePnTrFto/UaA-JfT9-qI/AAAAAAAANqU/naXMDBK8EwQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.27.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrjePnTrFto/UaA-JfT9-qI/AAAAAAAANqU/naXMDBK8EwQ/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.27.58+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rXWBPjAYX6o/UaA-JlohRaI/AAAAAAAANqc/V1uzXMjOALg/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.28.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rXWBPjAYX6o/UaA-JlohRaI/AAAAAAAANqc/V1uzXMjOALg/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.28.16+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GciTGFUHUas/UaA-Ibq6y9I/AAAAAAAANqA/IHkHluHyRlE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.25.46+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GciTGFUHUas/UaA-Ibq6y9I/AAAAAAAANqA/IHkHluHyRlE/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-25+at+12.25.46+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />katy and i will be at the market selling our wares a few times this season. life is so busy with three kids but it is fun to do! maybe we will see you there!Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-13468415026375269222013-05-20T16:12:00.000-04:002013-05-20T16:17:20.029-04:00tess at ten months...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAoyPrEu3A8/UZp-1xNN7BI/AAAAAAAANo8/f-rKdIt_inQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.11.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAoyPrEu3A8/UZp-1xNN7BI/AAAAAAAANo8/f-rKdIt_inQ/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.11.49+AM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br /><br />tess at ten months is a super silly tess! she scrunches her nose to show good and bad. she is very good at letting you know exactly what she wants, often with her own made up signs or language. she is cruising all over the place, by herself and holding our hands. she can stand on he own but is still unsure about the whole walking thing. it's getting so close. i'm not sure i'm ready for that milestone but i am enjoying this steadier tess, as it means she can explore more freely on her own. she is constantly watching her brother and sister and trying to do what they do. she loves being outside, animals (especially her nap buddy, kitty). she loves the zoo and exploring in general. she saw the ocean for the first time and held our hands to run into the water as fast as her legs would carry her. she kicked and splashed and was covered in sand and water. she licked all the seashells like an ice cream cone then threw them down for another. she is fairly fearless until someone new approaches and then she suddenly is shy and cuddly. she says "hi" and "bye" and waves at everything. she gives great big open mouth kisses while smashing her face into yours. she is loved tremendously and that love just shines out of her onto us all. we are all so grateful for this little ball of light!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E6RacIoFSlM/UZp-1y0b4vI/AAAAAAAANo4/d2qr_v09oHo/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E6RacIoFSlM/UZp-1y0b4vI/AAAAAAAANo4/d2qr_v09oHo/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.06+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RyttWc8n5c/UZp-1nk0-mI/AAAAAAAANo0/zyqM1WtZqoA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.25+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RyttWc8n5c/UZp-1nk0-mI/AAAAAAAANo0/zyqM1WtZqoA/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.25+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZCD7Z_r010/UZp-3NreqAI/AAAAAAAANpI/RmUZiPlklcw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZCD7Z_r010/UZp-3NreqAI/AAAAAAAANpI/RmUZiPlklcw/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.51+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHbL66AD33k/UZp-3gVBYAI/AAAAAAAANpQ/bpbVbP8VDYs/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.13.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHbL66AD33k/UZp-3gVBYAI/AAAAAAAANpQ/bpbVbP8VDYs/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.13.04+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9yeZmvZQfvg/UZp-4bRMVcI/AAAAAAAANpk/ehQlmJRGZ0U/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.13.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9yeZmvZQfvg/UZp-4bRMVcI/AAAAAAAANpk/ehQlmJRGZ0U/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.13.18+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gUSz23ayVw/UZp-4Wi1QHI/AAAAAAAANpo/PWc1kQ8HEEE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.13.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gUSz23ayVw/UZp-4Wi1QHI/AAAAAAAANpo/PWc1kQ8HEEE/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.13.32+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pydjM-4GCRU/UZp-24enRLI/AAAAAAAANpE/7LNNILblVU8/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.35+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pydjM-4GCRU/UZp-24enRLI/AAAAAAAANpE/7LNNILblVU8/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-20+at+11.12.35+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><span id="goog_571168250"></span><span id="goog_571168251"></span><br />sorry, for my absence lately! my five days a week posting challenge was fun but proved to hard to keep up. i'm going to aim for two days a week. i do have a lot to share!<br /><br />**i do post pictures daily on<a href="http://instagram.com/littleloveblue" target="_blank"> instagram</a>!Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-22822022613619369292013-05-03T14:29:00.000-04:002013-05-03T14:29:48.240-04:00mister finch...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0khuvjHZAwc/UYP9NYaEP0I/AAAAAAAAMHM/qWFr3EXr9BY/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.05.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0khuvjHZAwc/UYP9NYaEP0I/AAAAAAAAMHM/qWFr3EXr9BY/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.05.50+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />years ago i had the idea to make large fabric moths to hang on the wall. i thought it would be such a &nbsp;beautiful sight. i doubted anyone else would like them but me. small children got in the way of making what i had in mind, it would require both intricate and large scale work. i always carried the idea around with me though. when i saw these moths by <a href="http://www.mister-finch.com/" target="_blank">mister finch</a> i literally gasped! they are different than the moths i envisioned but nonetheless someone had created large scale textile moths! i'm glad someone else had the idea too and actually carried out. i'm glad to have found the work of mister&nbsp;finch as well. if you are a fan of textile art, especially nature inspired, you have probably seen his work before. we live extraordinarily different lives i guess, but in way when i see someone creating work like this i feel like i have found a kindred spirit. i also feel the tiniest bit jealous of their free time to create. someday all these ideas rattling around my brain will have more time to be developed. in the meantime i will fit in what i can when i can, and i will be inspired to make more time by looking at marvelous creations like these....<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mvmiCmZiepc/UYP_qAchaII/AAAAAAAAMHY/oFbW8KtXvqE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.16.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mvmiCmZiepc/UYP_qAchaII/AAAAAAAAMHY/oFbW8KtXvqE/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.16.58+PM.png" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kqVK_EXSvU/UYP_qTX983I/AAAAAAAAMHc/VPowG-UKbQk/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.17.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kqVK_EXSvU/UYP_qTX983I/AAAAAAAAMHc/VPowG-UKbQk/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.17.09+PM.png" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmslrkk4Vok/UYP_qdcJVsI/AAAAAAAAMHg/ADXlkdvWxeU/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.17.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmslrkk4Vok/UYP_qdcJVsI/AAAAAAAAMHg/ADXlkdvWxeU/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.17.28+PM.png" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xp17lXzVbmE/UYP_q4j-FkI/AAAAAAAAMHw/rhtw9mlbCKw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.18.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xp17lXzVbmE/UYP_q4j-FkI/AAAAAAAAMHw/rhtw9mlbCKw/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.18.00+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0x7bV3ElcI/UYP_rA7UuoI/AAAAAAAAMH0/lS0jRathVxQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.18.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0x7bV3ElcI/UYP_rA7UuoI/AAAAAAAAMH0/lS0jRathVxQ/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.18.41+PM.png" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-if-aa-mB27Y/UYP_rYgj4JI/AAAAAAAAMIA/_ajvlZM5o9k/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.18.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-if-aa-mB27Y/UYP_rYgj4JI/AAAAAAAAMIA/_ajvlZM5o9k/s400/Screen+shot+2013-05-03+at+2.18.56+PM.png" width="297" /></a></div><br />he writes:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My main inspirations come from nature and often I return to certain ideas again and again.<br />Flowers, insects and birds really fascinate me with their amazing life cycles and extraordinary nests and behaviour.<br />British folklore is also so beautifully rich in fabulous stories and warnings and never ceases to be at the heart of what I make.<br />Shape shifting witches, moon gazing hares and a smartly dressed devil ready to invite you to stray from the path.<br />Humanising animals with shoes and clothes is something Ive always done and I imagine them to come alive at night. Getting dressed and helping an elderly shoemaker or the tired housewife.</div>how lovely.<br /><br />all photos and more are from <a href="http://www.mister-finch.com/portfolio/#" target="_blank">here</a>. hopefully he doesn't mind me sharing them. you can also look in his <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MisterFinch" target="_blank">etsy shop</a> as well.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-12753636235059285642013-05-01T22:45:00.000-04:002013-05-01T22:47:33.580-04:00forever...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vgix9K588c8/UYHP8DjXwMI/AAAAAAAAMDM/-XCUibMtxJM/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.28.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vgix9K588c8/UYHP8DjXwMI/AAAAAAAAMDM/-XCUibMtxJM/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.28.07+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BOsAuZYkNJY/UYHP8FwuPhI/AAAAAAAAMDQ/rlhjJxXKdYE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.28.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BOsAuZYkNJY/UYHP8FwuPhI/AAAAAAAAMDQ/rlhjJxXKdYE/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.28.52+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgtMAk9BLwA/UYHP7pFtuZI/AAAAAAAAMDE/QAz4WUHBbaA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.29.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgtMAk9BLwA/UYHP7pFtuZI/AAAAAAAAMDE/QAz4WUHBbaA/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.29.19+PM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag6jv35RnxA/UYHP8-U9NrI/AAAAAAAAMDY/WGIrSyjjjS0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.30.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag6jv35RnxA/UYHP8-U9NrI/AAAAAAAAMDY/WGIrSyjjjS0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-05-01+at+10.30.14+PM.png" width="630" /></a></div><br /><br />the other day i was out walking with the kids (we do that a lot these days, forever wandering) and my son suddenly turned to me and said "i wish we could all stay this same age forever... us kids and you and papa, and we could just stay together like this always." he said it with such absolute longing and honesty. it was a one of those moments you want to hold inside you forever and never forget. i want to memorize it and keep it with me throughout my life, to wear it like a locket next to my heart. i know that feeling and often i wish for it too... but they will continue to grow and change, as children do. honestly as sad as that makes me at times, i of course can't wait to see it. i want to know the people they will become because they are already so interesting and funny. even tessa already at nine months old. i love who they are and i will love who they become even more. my son's words are what i need though. they are a reminder of how fleeting it all really is. he can feel it now. at ten he can sense that cusp he is on and i'm glad he is trying to hold onto childhood a bit longer. although, a few minutes later he did say that maybe he would like to be thirteen at least, that way he could watch all those PG-13 movies we never let him see. oh, the future is always calling isn't it?Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-72029256492588358082013-04-15T22:24:00.000-04:002013-04-15T22:24:57.771-04:00the goat farm...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oa6btarzUg4/UWyx2isaVrI/AAAAAAAAKUk/zHiIIF7Noxs/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-04-15+at+10.04.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oa6btarzUg4/UWyx2isaVrI/AAAAAAAAKUk/zHiIIF7Noxs/s640/Screen+shot+2013-04-15+at+10.04.12+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_3QFXz4u3k/UWyx2wSQI8I/AAAAAAAAKUo/7Brow-8JSOo/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-04-15+at+10.04.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_3QFXz4u3k/UWyx2wSQI8I/AAAAAAAAKUo/7Brow-8JSOo/s640/Screen+shot+2013-04-15+at+10.04.27+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />saturday morning i went with my sister to <a href="http://therevivalofvintage.com/" target="_blank">the revival of vintage</a> market at <a href="http://tanzfarm.com/about/curators/the-goat-farm-arts-center/" target="_blank">the goat farm arts center</a>. the goat farm is one of my favorite places to visit. it is sort of indescribable... beautiful crumbling old buildings and factory spaces that are used now as a performance place for music, art, and dance. artists live and work here as well... as do goats and chickens! it is so quintessentially atlanta, one of the best things about this city. the market was a lot of fun. i picked up a few vintage pieces, including this beautiful rocking chair for the porch. it was only $10 dollars and needs only a little bit of love! it's the beginning of "the fixing up the porch project" we are starting after i have a yard sale next weekend (and get rid of all the crap i have been piling up on the porch for it). i'm hoping to find some more vintage pieces to go with it. i saw a beautiful old vintage wicker rocker last year at kudzu but didn't have any spare money at the time to get it. hopefully some more pieces will find their way to me though! next time i visit the goat farm i will be sure to bring along my real camera and take some more photos to share.<br /><br /><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-62813184932641440502013-04-12T10:40:00.001-04:002013-04-12T10:52:18.281-04:00spring "break"...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfkYtF5oHeI/UWgYe0iQ0uI/AAAAAAAAKEg/Y9nT2UEy0_k/s1600/IMG_20130411_094526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfkYtF5oHeI/UWgYe0iQ0uI/AAAAAAAAKEg/Y9nT2UEy0_k/s640/IMG_20130411_094526.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAvuTzt6rNQ/UWgYe599jdI/AAAAAAAAKEg/CmWG846fQ5c/s1600/IMG_20130410_132226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAvuTzt6rNQ/UWgYe599jdI/AAAAAAAAKEg/CmWG846fQ5c/s640/IMG_20130410_132226.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z7L9lIfdMw/UWgYe5TyfjI/AAAAAAAAKEg/4-SECva12GA/s1600/IMG_20130410_122648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z7L9lIfdMw/UWgYe5TyfjI/AAAAAAAAKEg/4-SECva12GA/s640/IMG_20130410_122648.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AAJ_BKISOI/UWgYe5PMNvI/AAAAAAAAKEg/BJns1ZWg5ic/s1600/IMG_20130409_155110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AAJ_BKISOI/UWgYe5PMNvI/AAAAAAAAKEg/BJns1ZWg5ic/s640/IMG_20130409_155110.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2aNh9ZKBCg/UWgYe87FBTI/AAAAAAAAKEg/itCRNklfqMw/s1600/IMG_20130409_155004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2aNh9ZKBCg/UWgYe87FBTI/AAAAAAAAKEg/itCRNklfqMw/s640/IMG_20130409_155004.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkaCXgIqYxY/UWgYe803HJI/AAAAAAAAKEg/0pYcOYSYbwE/s1600/IMG_20130409_133853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkaCXgIqYxY/UWgYe803HJI/AAAAAAAAKEg/0pYcOYSYbwE/s640/IMG_20130409_133853.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccJlObV2eNg/UWgYe3BVzWI/AAAAAAAAKEg/_sL6rLDPVz4/s1600/IMG_20130405_180052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccJlObV2eNg/UWgYe3BVzWI/AAAAAAAAKEg/_sL6rLDPVz4/s640/IMG_20130405_180052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fV-GQB3FhPc/UWgZoE97MiI/AAAAAAAAKEs/Iflb51qaKvw/s1600/IMG_20130401_105241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fV-GQB3FhPc/UWgZoE97MiI/AAAAAAAAKEs/Iflb51qaKvw/s640/IMG_20130401_105241.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNTYWeZGhBw/UWgZoGiSu-I/AAAAAAAAKEs/KE3ydL1L7ps/s1600/IMG_20130328_114638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNTYWeZGhBw/UWgZoGiSu-I/AAAAAAAAKEs/KE3ydL1L7ps/s640/IMG_20130328_114638.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDYD0YKvdKM/UWgYe1CshxI/AAAAAAAAKEg/Cr3sU0jB1Qk/s1600/IMG_20130405_151939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDYD0YKvdKM/UWgYe1CshxI/AAAAAAAAKEg/Cr3sU0jB1Qk/s640/IMG_20130405_151939.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />oh, nine months. i can't tell you the number of things i have pulled out of the baby's mouth this week (including brick, why?), pulled her off of or had to take away from her. she's already figured out how to climb... dishwasher, stairs, and working on the couch and chairs. busy, busy, busy! she has a whole world to explore and try to eat!<br /><br />this week had been our "spring break". i put that in quotes because it is not much different than most other weeks. it has been really warm though, so we were basically living on a blanket in the grass this week. jack henry is exploring his independence and biking all over our neighborhood. i am wishing that it was more like my childhood with more kids out and about too. we make play dates but that's &nbsp;really not the same. is it different where you live? sidney has been exploring the neighborhood too but she is our little ambassador. she likes to talk to all of the grownups on the street... helping a mom with a toddler a few doors down and gardening with the woman across from us. she likes to know what everyone is doing and what is going on. the pollen is insane here. every spring it rains down on us and covers the world in a green haze that is impossible to get off. i've never seen anything like it until moving here. last night it rained though (which sounds so great on the metal roof) and hopefully much of it was washed away. i have three sick kids now so i'm not sure how much exploring they will feel up too. maybe once it dries out a bit we will pull out the blanket again and sit in the grass watching the baby eat sticks to her hearts content. happy spring!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzgjYymYFAU/UWgfgLasezI/AAAAAAAAKFE/Dd_j6AvGwA4/s1600/IMG_20130411_162356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzgjYymYFAU/UWgfgLasezI/AAAAAAAAKFE/Dd_j6AvGwA4/s640/IMG_20130411_162356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-45214746237437174462013-04-09T22:16:00.000-04:002013-04-09T22:16:22.011-04:00nine months... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tpetSCodD7I/UWTD7c070DI/AAAAAAAAJuU/x1tPs-v6WvA/s1600/558004_10151430493387881_707949510_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tpetSCodD7I/UWTD7c070DI/AAAAAAAAJuU/x1tPs-v6WvA/s640/558004_10151430493387881_707949510_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />tess is nine months old. she has now been out in the world longer than she was in the womb. that is so&nbsp;bittersweet. i find myself looking enviously at pregnant women on the street. how quickly you forget how hard it was! little tess looks so happy here, but you can probably see her runny nose. she's had a bad cold this week. yet, still she smiles on. that's tess. until you make her mad, and then uh oh she throws a tantrum. sidney on my lap? she is jealous and throws her head back in anger banging it on the floorand needing all my attention. take away something she wants and she throws her head back again or falls forward onto her tummy where she kicks and screams. she loves being naughty! she finds something new and looks to you to see if she is supposed to have it... no? even better!! she is so full of energy and is always on the move. i held her in my lap today like when she was a newborn and asked her to be my little baby again, to just lay there and look around and be content. but no, she wiggles and laughs and squirms away. even singing her favorite songs only gives you a minute. if you sit on the floor though, she is likely to come over and climb all over you like a jungle gym. she will offer you some snack, and then snatch it away again. she will laugh and dance. she sometimes lets go and stands on her own, but only when she doesn't realize. she is not so quick to walk like her brother was and i am grateful. stay my little baby tess. let me cuddle you and kiss your cheeks and belly. let me nurse you sometimes with out squirming around but the way you used to, staring at me only and not the goings on of the world around us. when those moments do come now i must remember to treasure them completely. don't let me miss them before they are gone all together.<br /><br /><br />sorry for my absence last week. a hot water pipe broke in our upstairs bathroom and made quite a mess. we are left without a shower and have only the old claw foot tub to share. all of the pipes need to be replaced up there. anyone want to be our benefactor to make that happen? no? oh, well. the claw foot tub is kind of romantic. at least i keep telling myself that. if you do happen to work for this old house feel free to contact me!Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-40520902587483755612013-03-28T11:39:00.000-04:002013-03-28T11:39:32.200-04:00from the garden...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdFSIAJtCj0/UVRf3OAxNXI/AAAAAAAAIqg/3u7EzIOk02U/s1600/garden11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdFSIAJtCj0/UVRf3OAxNXI/AAAAAAAAIqg/3u7EzIOk02U/s640/garden11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8USo3qvLMA/UVRf4KRWatI/AAAAAAAAIqo/_NLRrg4VgTc/s1600/garden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8USo3qvLMA/UVRf4KRWatI/AAAAAAAAIqo/_NLRrg4VgTc/s640/garden1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1gUJ3gNSTE/UVRgBs6d7ZI/AAAAAAAAIqw/zTU7Umm154M/s1600/garden10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1gUJ3gNSTE/UVRgBs6d7ZI/AAAAAAAAIqw/zTU7Umm154M/s640/garden10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORoTH6GcMKI/UVRgC-dgaHI/AAAAAAAAIq4/ZPdjB_V_vnA/s1600/garden13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORoTH6GcMKI/UVRgC-dgaHI/AAAAAAAAIq4/ZPdjB_V_vnA/s640/garden13.jpg" width="582" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbTV1bOwa84/UVRgF2JmUOI/AAAAAAAAIrA/U0PqolIRLM0/s1600/garden12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbTV1bOwa84/UVRgF2JmUOI/AAAAAAAAIrA/U0PqolIRLM0/s640/garden12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xG9MDme9Vok/UVRgO0N9OXI/AAAAAAAAIrI/X6somc9fnsQ/s1600/garden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xG9MDme9Vok/UVRgO0N9OXI/AAAAAAAAIrI/X6somc9fnsQ/s640/garden2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xC9pFLTHABQ/UVRgUClzeZI/AAAAAAAAIrQ/n9p9UeV4kMI/s1600/garden14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xC9pFLTHABQ/UVRgUClzeZI/AAAAAAAAIrQ/n9p9UeV4kMI/s640/garden14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4QUnikBLAo/UVRgXmkRZpI/AAAAAAAAIrY/z1DfVXUNfh8/s1600/garden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4QUnikBLAo/UVRgXmkRZpI/AAAAAAAAIrY/z1DfVXUNfh8/s640/garden3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C0mu9JeMxGo/UVRgiTlbpfI/AAAAAAAAIrg/wpcV0dxFxi4/s1600/garden5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C0mu9JeMxGo/UVRgiTlbpfI/AAAAAAAAIrg/wpcV0dxFxi4/s640/garden5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSX_fiIarRs/UVRgjt43JNI/AAAAAAAAIro/kQ0kb5xpMLU/s1600/garden6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSX_fiIarRs/UVRgjt43JNI/AAAAAAAAIro/kQ0kb5xpMLU/s640/garden6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mB-v0Ok2yZM/UVRgmETlVlI/AAAAAAAAIrw/gPA3Bhj61VY/s1600/garden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mB-v0Ok2yZM/UVRgmETlVlI/AAAAAAAAIrw/gPA3Bhj61VY/s640/garden4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-10rd5rO6DnI/UVRgxQs5P0I/AAAAAAAAIr4/02VHt8tmPCU/s1600/garden7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-10rd5rO6DnI/UVRgxQs5P0I/AAAAAAAAIr4/02VHt8tmPCU/s640/garden7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDKJ8IbMJ90/UVRg1TDV2oI/AAAAAAAAIsA/h54ehkDD7uM/s1600/garden8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDKJ8IbMJ90/UVRg1TDV2oI/AAAAAAAAIsA/h54ehkDD7uM/s640/garden8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZLTbDbo4z0/UVRg1x61iuI/AAAAAAAAIsI/0ODveRAZ3aM/s1600/garden9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZLTbDbo4z0/UVRg1x61iuI/AAAAAAAAIsI/0ODveRAZ3aM/s640/garden9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />we went to the botanical garden a week or so ago, when the weather was nice. the tulips were in bloom and the orchid show was going on, lovely and whimsical with flying umbrellas and hats, flowers growing from high heels hanging in the trees! the kids had so much fun, including tess who was afriad of the tulips! it was hilarious! they were bigger than her though, so i can't really blame her. she must have felt like alice in wonderland. i think we all did a little bit.<br /><br />a few photos from <a href="http://littleloveblue.blogspot.com/2012/03/busy-weekend-not-so-busy-weekend.html" target="_blank">last year</a>&nbsp;in the garden at this time.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-28928678937870564102013-03-25T23:03:00.000-04:002013-03-25T23:03:00.514-04:00getting ready for easter...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_ZTUpAKHuU/UVEK-e-4L6I/AAAAAAAAIbU/wpQfI0Lo9VQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.38.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_ZTUpAKHuU/UVEK-e-4L6I/AAAAAAAAIbU/wpQfI0Lo9VQ/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.38.09+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJuoYSBXeic/UVEK-4QfDSI/AAAAAAAAIbc/6RH--fWV5Rc/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.38.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJuoYSBXeic/UVEK-4QfDSI/AAAAAAAAIbc/6RH--fWV5Rc/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.38.31+PM.png" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WYn3cNdeC4U/UVEK_JNbR8I/AAAAAAAAIbk/0AI62oLCfh4/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.37.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WYn3cNdeC4U/UVEK_JNbR8I/AAAAAAAAIbk/0AI62oLCfh4/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.37.47+PM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vO5x_jTXkA8/UVEK__MNjHI/AAAAAAAAIbs/KnH9YgKzMY0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vO5x_jTXkA8/UVEK__MNjHI/AAAAAAAAIbs/KnH9YgKzMY0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.11+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rthR1OuuKEM/UVEK_R_laVI/AAAAAAAAIbw/YYvXAF3nzGE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.38.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rthR1OuuKEM/UVEK_R_laVI/AAAAAAAAIbw/YYvXAF3nzGE/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.38.52+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--koUFUl8syM/UVELA1RxleI/AAAAAAAAIcE/HqYLQNFzgKw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--koUFUl8syM/UVELA1RxleI/AAAAAAAAIcE/HqYLQNFzgKw/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.44+PM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P8s6_o7Hds/UVELBS7GO4I/AAAAAAAAIcM/sv3aVzZpNfE/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P8s6_o7Hds/UVELBS7GO4I/AAAAAAAAIcM/sv3aVzZpNfE/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.59+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XBOLGwAZ-S8/UVELB-a_1XI/AAAAAAAAIcU/eRqaQ_PH1u0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.41.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XBOLGwAZ-S8/UVELB-a_1XI/AAAAAAAAIcU/eRqaQ_PH1u0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.41.00+PM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFcVrkk1nj4/UVELBskLT1I/AAAAAAAAIcg/riv9PCLLi1o/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.40.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="628" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFcVrkk1nj4/UVELBskLT1I/AAAAAAAAIcg/riv9PCLLi1o/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.40.16+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D127KmsSbqA/UVELAdnmIqI/AAAAAAAAIb4/e0rlp3-HwdY/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D127KmsSbqA/UVELAdnmIqI/AAAAAAAAIb4/e0rlp3-HwdY/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-25+at+10.39.28+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />1. they asked if they could paint eggs for the egg tree and i told them they need to be blown out first but that i had to put the baby down. when i came back they had already done them all themselves! who are these big kids?<br />2. she likes it up there<br />3. getting ready to go eat vietnamese food with my husband. alone!<br />4. yay, tofu for lunch! this girl loves to eat (and dance)<br />5. almost ready for their big day<br />6. and 7. collecting from the yard to <a href="http://www.littleloveblue.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter.html" target="_blank">dye eggs</a><br />8. sisters<br />9. nerf battle in pj's with a purple tie around his head<br />10. dying eggs<br /><br />tomorrow i will share the results of our egg dying this year. we have been doing it for several years now and they always come out different. i also have to help get the boys off on their camping trip tomorrow and comfort a sad sister who will feel left behind. hope you all had a lovely weekend? i went to the wren's nest. it was really interesting. i learned so much. i will have to share more soon. i also did a lot of sewing. i always forget how much i love it. it's been a while and sidney was surprised when she saw them, gasping "they are so beautiful... how do you do that!?" always nice to hear:) jack henry also won the pinewood derby this year and came home beaming with a trophy. good times.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-3466388613501880582013-03-23T01:11:00.001-04:002013-03-23T01:16:34.291-04:00scenes from the week...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-E654eRhZo/UU03aA99reI/AAAAAAAAIH4/V0dp8bJ95Mw/s1600/IMG_20130321_174329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-E654eRhZo/UU03aA99reI/AAAAAAAAIH4/V0dp8bJ95Mw/s640/IMG_20130321_174329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LembNeGy58w/UU03aIithxI/AAAAAAAAIH4/Y2vcy4Enx84/s1600/IMG_20130322_091756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LembNeGy58w/UU03aIithxI/AAAAAAAAIH4/Y2vcy4Enx84/s640/IMG_20130322_091756.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CR3QVTQbmOM/UU03aCUe30I/AAAAAAAAIH4/ahbiudrM_H4/s1600/IMG_20130321_173552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CR3QVTQbmOM/UU03aCUe30I/AAAAAAAAIH4/ahbiudrM_H4/s640/IMG_20130321_173552.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc4ibuGB9c8/UU03aCd9vCI/AAAAAAAAIH4/WnOr8QokXWQ/s1600/IMG_20130321_120642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc4ibuGB9c8/UU03aCd9vCI/AAAAAAAAIH4/WnOr8QokXWQ/s640/IMG_20130321_120642.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYtSvE7Ilhs/UU03aFhvrII/AAAAAAAAIH4/oFflIsII3tY/s1600/IMG_20130321_144910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYtSvE7Ilhs/UU03aFhvrII/AAAAAAAAIH4/oFflIsII3tY/s640/IMG_20130321_144910.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pAbnYduT2aI/UU03aG_Gs6I/AAAAAAAAIH4/x_kinDHUmjQ/s1600/IMG_20130321_093948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pAbnYduT2aI/UU03aG_Gs6I/AAAAAAAAIH4/x_kinDHUmjQ/s640/IMG_20130321_093948.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfYxOu57NZM/UU03aOCEYTI/AAAAAAAAIH4/8D5555PIze4/s1600/IMG_20130320_202506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfYxOu57NZM/UU03aOCEYTI/AAAAAAAAIH4/8D5555PIze4/s640/IMG_20130320_202506.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />1. so much work to to finish before i can actually work on my office itself<br />2. french toast et asterix, for breakfast<br />3. and 4. scrabble is mosre of a cooperative game at this point but fun<br />5. sleep is so rare these days<br />6. this face in the morning makes everything worth it<br />7. sisters in the tub, a washcloth beard is always fun<br /><br />well this week was kind of a doozy and i can't say i'm sorry to see it go. it started off with a not too pleasant trip to the dentist and didn't really go up from there. little sleep and little patience leave me looking forward to trying again next week. hopefully the weekend will be what i need to start anew. hopefully. next week it will just be me and those two cute girls above. jack henry is going camping with just papa... they are going to the beach. i'm a little jealous but maybe i can find a way to make the week extra special for us too.<br /><br />have a lovely weekend my friends. xoxoCary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-55862360221987385432013-03-20T18:45:00.001-04:002013-03-20T18:45:32.424-04:00in a matter of minutes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUZU1XSIjI0/UUo5EJEsEBI/AAAAAAAAHuU/p8Vzk_Tlga0/s1600/IMG_20130320_161121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUZU1XSIjI0/UUo5EJEsEBI/AAAAAAAAHuU/p8Vzk_Tlga0/s640/IMG_20130320_161121.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zex23Cd37L8/UUo5EIyCKfI/AAAAAAAAHuU/ohMhxGsrph8/s1600/IMG_20130320_160730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zex23Cd37L8/UUo5EIyCKfI/AAAAAAAAHuU/ohMhxGsrph8/s640/IMG_20130320_160730.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0SEvnGHUpM/UUo5EL_FuYI/AAAAAAAAHuU/9T3i0NgwGbU/s1600/IMG_20130320_160326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0SEvnGHUpM/UUo5EL_FuYI/AAAAAAAAHuU/9T3i0NgwGbU/s640/IMG_20130320_160326.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srKbofnwTgw/UUo5EP_KrQI/AAAAAAAAHuU/sxnys8qaB9A/s1600/IMG_20130320_160120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srKbofnwTgw/UUo5EP_KrQI/AAAAAAAAHuU/sxnys8qaB9A/s640/IMG_20130320_160120.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Isj6fqdtga4/UUo5EOLHvCI/AAAAAAAAHuU/PczcrHINUfs/s1600/IMG_20130320_155929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Isj6fqdtga4/UUo5EOLHvCI/AAAAAAAAHuU/PczcrHINUfs/s640/IMG_20130320_155929.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NT5GqkTYImI/UUo5EP2KtdI/AAAAAAAAHuU/2aIX3nXcYGQ/s1600/IMG_20130320_155558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NT5GqkTYImI/UUo5EP2KtdI/AAAAAAAAHuU/2aIX3nXcYGQ/s640/IMG_20130320_155558.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aq8ijMLM9hk/UUo6Nt-X_7I/AAAAAAAAHvc/Kzutn_r_2L8/s1600/IMG_20130320_155534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aq8ijMLM9hk/UUo6Nt-X_7I/AAAAAAAAHvc/Kzutn_r_2L8/s640/IMG_20130320_155534.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ENqa-fhVhPs/UUo5_G-JdVI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/uBFiJQl2Gjo/s1600/IMG_20130320_155342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ENqa-fhVhPs/UUo5_G-JdVI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/uBFiJQl2Gjo/s640/IMG_20130320_155342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3x1orl71eGQ/UUo5_CP5TfI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/5oE_ns0JYYg/s1600/IMG_20130320_155352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3x1orl71eGQ/UUo5_CP5TfI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/5oE_ns0JYYg/s640/IMG_20130320_155352.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nN6FjPsDRis/UUo5y4ziwLI/AAAAAAAAHvI/j8Pr9xhu2Ls/s1600/IMG_20130320_155608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nN6FjPsDRis/UUo5y4ziwLI/AAAAAAAAHvI/j8Pr9xhu2Ls/s640/IMG_20130320_155608.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />phew! life is very busy when you are 8 months old! i took these over a very short period this afternoon while the older kids played outside (see her looking for them out the window? maybe under the rug?). so much to do and see and try to eat! so why is it i'm the one ready for a nap?<br /><br />no naps for me (or her either for that matter). i am spending any spare moments i can grab working on a cake topper that needs finishing and mailing off. i got as far as setting up my desk in my new "studio" space and that is it. baby steps. too bad i'm not as effecient as my actual baby at getting things done.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8x0XzDV4h0/UUo7OjMOt1I/AAAAAAAAHvk/A6YJZAOFxfI/s1600/IMG_20130320_141241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8x0XzDV4h0/UUo7OjMOt1I/AAAAAAAAHvk/A6YJZAOFxfI/s400/IMG_20130320_141241.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-32940412058222205702013-03-19T23:19:00.002-04:002013-03-19T23:19:39.367-04:00kiai!...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJh_WBd_qe0/UUkoHb3pSmI/AAAAAAAAHgc/rt8W3XCg248/s1600/IMG_20130319_190320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJh_WBd_qe0/UUkoHb3pSmI/AAAAAAAAHgc/rt8W3XCg248/s640/IMG_20130319_190320.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lyrEGFYrSNQ/UUkoHZnm07I/AAAAAAAAHgc/u4U-a5-1X20/s1600/IMG_20130319_190323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lyrEGFYrSNQ/UUkoHZnm07I/AAAAAAAAHgc/u4U-a5-1X20/s640/IMG_20130319_190323.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Kws2k8k5cc/UUkoHcSWsJI/AAAAAAAAHgc/95B5MbMZ-Zk/s1600/IMG_20130319_190326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Kws2k8k5cc/UUkoHcSWsJI/AAAAAAAAHgc/95B5MbMZ-Zk/s640/IMG_20130319_190326.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVKRfTjAQh8/UUkoHQD-jQI/AAAAAAAAHgc/PgYUu6SXxLU/s1600/IMG_20130319_190330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVKRfTjAQh8/UUkoHQD-jQI/AAAAAAAAHgc/PgYUu6SXxLU/s640/IMG_20130319_190330.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBqGrizz3QM/UUkoHYEA6zI/AAAAAAAAHgc/Q70Nj8Te98Q/s1600/IMG_20130319_190351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBqGrizz3QM/UUkoHYEA6zI/AAAAAAAAHgc/Q70Nj8Te98Q/s640/IMG_20130319_190351.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walking home from the dojo</td></tr></tbody></table><br />my kids started martial arts this week. sidney was so hesitant at first. we visited the class "just to watch" but she assured me she did not want to take one... until about half way through. i think the dressing room and outfits got her interested but truly she is such a little spit fire. she never lets her brother get the better of her. she is tough, and i think this is the perfect outlet for her to show that. her brother loves it too. he has been interested for quite some time and i'm glad we finally decided to do it. right now they are taking classes three days a week. it is a short walk from our house. the baby loves to watch too... and shout when she hears them yell "kiai"! if they keep it up just think how much she will know by the time she is old enough to take the class. watch out for my three little ninjas! kiai!Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-19258252480607929712013-03-18T21:09:00.000-04:002013-03-19T23:27:19.740-04:00in the yard...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlW7pHk1thM/UUe2YIks21I/AAAAAAAAHbk/zY2z2GJh2M0/s1600/IMG_20130318_095925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlW7pHk1thM/UUe2YIks21I/AAAAAAAAHbk/zY2z2GJh2M0/s640/IMG_20130318_095925.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa_jV45t89w/UUe2YBMcn4I/AAAAAAAAHbk/0DNt1SbvGUw/s1600/IMG_20130318_093824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa_jV45t89w/UUe2YBMcn4I/AAAAAAAAHbk/0DNt1SbvGUw/s640/IMG_20130318_093824.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tbapm_DatSg/UUe3OG9ZWlI/AAAAAAAAHcY/6IBrWJ2Gxro/s1600/IMG_20130318_094510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tbapm_DatSg/UUe3OG9ZWlI/AAAAAAAAHcY/6IBrWJ2Gxro/s640/IMG_20130318_094510.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMQohdUfml4/UUe3OJCKfgI/AAAAAAAAHcY/WFlnCJd2Ggc/s1600/IMG_20130318_093453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMQohdUfml4/UUe3OJCKfgI/AAAAAAAAHcY/WFlnCJd2Ggc/s640/IMG_20130318_093453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfRergHDiP4/UUe2YA4L--I/AAAAAAAAHbk/3skX_u4NDXA/s1600/IMG_20130318_093737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfRergHDiP4/UUe2YA4L--I/AAAAAAAAHbk/3skX_u4NDXA/s640/IMG_20130318_093737.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--kGPD-86ydE/UUe2YPHleEI/AAAAAAAAHbk/qVGf1S3YMpQ/s1600/IMG_20130318_093729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--kGPD-86ydE/UUe2YPHleEI/AAAAAAAAHbk/qVGf1S3YMpQ/s640/IMG_20130318_093729.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYQHblKCS6Q/UUe2YGLTQ8I/AAAAAAAAHbk/Ncwbrv_w8Nk/s1600/IMG_20130318_093644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYQHblKCS6Q/UUe2YGLTQ8I/AAAAAAAAHbk/Ncwbrv_w8Nk/s640/IMG_20130318_093644.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJcxOq5LARE/UUe2YA4ztDI/AAAAAAAAHbk/EOyiRuIeJRU/s1600/IMG_20130318_093354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJcxOq5LARE/UUe2YA4ztDI/AAAAAAAAHbk/EOyiRuIeJRU/s640/IMG_20130318_093354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpC2aods5_s/UUe2YEOeIqI/AAAAAAAAHbk/edwV1g32lQ4/s1600/IMG_20130318_093250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpC2aods5_s/UUe2YEOeIqI/AAAAAAAAHbk/edwV1g32lQ4/s640/IMG_20130318_093250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nXEYnvfgwvc/UUe2YI91-aI/AAAAAAAAHbk/lWem3sPbryU/s1600/IMG_20130318_093209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nXEYnvfgwvc/UUe2YI91-aI/AAAAAAAAHbk/lWem3sPbryU/s640/IMG_20130318_093209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-726LwoyrDBU/UUe2YAcOiUI/AAAAAAAAHbk/mCZ_ApFz59k/s1600/IMG_20130318_093216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-726LwoyrDBU/UUe2YAcOiUI/AAAAAAAAHbk/mCZ_ApFz59k/s640/IMG_20130318_093216.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />a little bit of our morning outside in the yard before the rain came (and still in pajamas). we discovered a yard full of violets, which tessa found fascinating. she carried this one around all morning and only occasionally tried to eat it. the children played on their balance beam/bridge that papa made... the chickens love it too and were playing follow the leader behind them! then the kids tried to see if chickens like to eat violets as much as babies (seems so). the baby was decorated with flowers from the pear tree and violets too. she seemed not to mind. charlie was chased, his favorite game. we cleared the path to the bridge and had several turns in the newly brought out hammock swing. everyone ended up muddy and we tromped back inside to spend the rest of the morning reading. our current favorite is 'the evolution of calpurnia tate' but we are also reading 'the mysterious benedict society... and a septimus heap book, it's amazing we keep them all straight!.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Calpurnia-Tate-Jacqueline-Kelly/dp/031265930X" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4c6fmjoms1qb27wfo1_500.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-68267151697742395032013-03-14T22:38:00.000-04:002013-03-14T23:16:49.681-04:00everything in its place...<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/165577723771986817/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/c8/45/cb/c845cb606d6b3fe8780c317380344e5e.jpg" width="425" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;"><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.carolhayesmanagement.co.uk/locations/images/Fournier_Street_09.jpg?vi=167" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">carolhayesmanagement.co.uk</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/littleloveblue/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Cary</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br />for me, one of the challenges of homeschooling is finding a balance between enjoying being at home and feeling a need to get housework done. we spend a lot of time at home (more so in winter) and we need to feel comfortable here, to enjoy this space and feel creative and inspired. the problem is i am also the one (mostly) in charge of keeping it clean. i do get a lot of help, but the brunt of it falls on me by default. i love having more space and a bigger house but i have to admit that this house has never been entirely clean all at the same time. never. not once. the upstairs has been clean. the downstairs has been clean. but never simultaneously. this is especially&nbsp;true since baby #3 came along. i have been trying to simplify the whole cleaning process by ever so slowly going through each room and ridding the house of excess clutter. i have a giant yard sale pile growing daily on my front porch (which i'm sure my neighbors appreciate!). i can't get rid of everything i want to but i'm trying to get down to what we really need and or love. it makes things so much easier at the end of the day to pick up for 5 minutes in a room and feel like it is manageable. of course that still leaves dusting (where does all that dust come from and does it ever really go away?), vacuuming (with two dogs and two cats i would hate to count how many hours i have <strike>wasted</strike> spent doing this), mopping, bathroom cleaning, laundry, and so on (and on). i admit that i am jealous whenever i see a cleaning company pull up to a neighbor's house. i hope no one ever sees me with my face pressed against the window glass, staring longingly like a kid in a candy store... remembering wistfully back to the time when i had that luxury.<br /><br />after the birth of my second daughter my mother-in-law gifted us with a cleaning service. it was a lovely gift and really necessary. not only did i also have a toddler but a preemie born seven weeks early who then caught r.s.v. we spent nearly a month total in the hospital with her and then i was ordered to keep her inside until spring (she was born in october!). it was a long winter. maria, a wonderful woman came once a week and did the necessary deep cleaning. i still had the daily work to do but i never felt overwhelmed by it. i also rarely left the house that winter and usually spent the time talking to maria who became close to me and my little ones and was truly a sanity saver for me. so after the gift part ran out, i kept her on. at the time we lived in the upstairs apartment of a house and the owner lived downstairs. one day the landlady was doing work in my apartment and casually asked me how i got my tub so clean (it was one of those with jets that are impossible to keep nice). i praised my lovely house keeper for doing such a great job and she gave me an odd look. at the time i was embarrassed, assuming she was judging me. paying someone to clean for you can be such a taboo subject. people like to do it but not to admit to it. i thought maybe she thought i was lazy, since i was always home anyways. when you are a mother at home with young children people often make you feel like you aren't actually doing anything, or anything important (but don't get me started on that). i was wrong though, she wasn't judging me, or if she was it was along the lines of "why do i have a tenant who has a housekeeper and i don't?!" yep. she turned right around and upped our rent... the exact amount i was paying to have the house cleaned each week! did she call the service and ask how much they charged? i don't know but we either had to accept the rent increase (our lease was up for renewal) or move out. so, i had to give up my cleaning service and say goodbye to maria. you can probably guess the rest. my landlady hired a cleaning service herself, even though she had no children and was away from home everyday!!! but who am i to judge, right?<br /><br />i do feel like it would be great to have more help or just not to care so much but in the meantime my yard sale pile keeps growing and you may catch me occasionally with my nose pressed against the window smudging up the glass. i should probably stop doing that though because it just makes one more thing i have to clean.<br /><br />*p.s. has anyone read <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/books/happier-at-home/about-the-book/" target="_blank">this book</a>?Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496218349370467625.post-34802012154554208232013-03-13T22:24:00.001-04:002013-03-13T22:26:01.583-04:00marching forward...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-IEsIgBzPM/UUEqmqAq9KI/AAAAAAAAHGk/EKjcVo6m52o/s1600/IMG_20130313_192222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-IEsIgBzPM/UUEqmqAq9KI/AAAAAAAAHGk/EKjcVo6m52o/s400/IMG_20130313_192222.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SisrFv0yMoU/T1ZK7fDJXPI/AAAAAAAADL0/BLx1f-dQeqU/s1600/cary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SisrFv0yMoU/T1ZK7fDJXPI/AAAAAAAADL0/BLx1f-dQeqU/s640/cary1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>i was thinking today about last year at this time. last year i posted the picture above announcing i was pregnant. i was full of hope and a bit of fear about the future. my life had started down such a different path... one of older children in school everyday, of quiet hours to do as i liked and to do what needed to be done. i was figuring out what all that meant when suddenly it all went down another road. now here i am a year later. excuse the blurry camera picture of me and tess but that is where my life is at. that was me, today, making dinner with a baby on my back. one who curiously tries to peek around to see what i am doing and pulls my hair and giggles when i cry "ouch"! it is a familiar life, one i remember and one that is new. i don't have a toddler to chase around this time too. this morning i took a shower and dressed while my oldest gave the baby breakfast! it is a good life, one with kids home all day and no more quiet hours alone. it is a cranky baby and a cranky mama and sometimes cranky kids all at once, but also of many moments of giggling and just time spent... together. reading books, making art, doing experiments, playing together. i am no where near perfect and fret daily that i am even "good enough" but i get up and keep trying. hopefully that is what we will all remember.Cary http://www.blogger.com/profile/04603353306342602885noreply@blogger.com2